Retainer strip



Oct. 21, 1941. i E. R. HATHAWAY 2,260,115,

v RETAINER STRIP Filed March 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Shed'l l 6 bgg-:aww Z 'ATTORNEYSL Oct. 2.1, 1941. E. R. HATHAWAY RETAINER STRIP 2 sheets-smeet 2 Filed March 6, 1939 Patented Oct. 21, 1941 yRETAINER. STRIP Detroit, Mich., assigner to Edward a. Hathaway,

Briggs Manufacturing Company,

Detroit, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan Application March YI5, 1939, Serial No. 260,070

- 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in retaining means for fabric materials employed for the purpose of trimming or upholstering vehicle bodies or the like, the invention being particularly applicable to the attachment of headlinings in automobile bodies. f i

One object of the invention is to'provide improved fastening or retaining means for the headlining or other fabric trim portions of a vehicle or automobile body by the use of which the headlining may be readily and easily installed and effectively secured in position andwhereby the retainer or fastening devices are wholly concealed from view. k

Another object of the invention is to provide a concealed retainer strip or equivalent means for securing the headlining in the roof of a vehicle and so constructed and arranged as to permit attachment of the headlining in its proper locationy without the use of tacks or the like.

A further object is to provide a metallic headlining retainer of the foregoing character which is deformable and which is adapted to hold the material in place by a piercing thereof at given points aswell as to eifect a gripping action on said material. Y p

The present application is a continuation in partV of my application Serial No. 41,360, filed September 20, 1935. A

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisv specic-ation wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of an automobile body in the locality of the side roof rail and illustrating one form of attaching means for the headlining, with the parts shown in the finally assembled position.'

Fig. 2 is a perspective View, in section, illustrating one retainer strip made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a view generally vsimilar to Fig. 1 but illustrating another form of attaching means for the headlining.

Fig. 4 is a View generally similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a kslightly modified form of retainer strip. i

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the side roof rail of the form of the invention depicted in Fig. 3 and is taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows. This View shows the parts in a finally assembled condition as well as indicating the means used for so assembling them.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but is taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 3 andshows the parts in' a partially assembled condition.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated, by way of example, onerembodiment of the invention Vwhereby the headlining of an automobile body may be readily and conveniently attached along its edges while at the same time fully concealing the attaching means therefor. The numaral I0 (Fig. 1) represents an outside roof panel having an in: wardly projecting flanging II, which flanging may constitute, for instance, the upper header or jamb of the door opening of a vehicle body or may extend into the interior of the vehicle for the sole purpose of supporting the side roof rail I3 which is xed thereto bysuitable means, such as spot welding as indicated at I2, I2. This side roof rail is a substantially-flat',v upstanding metallic-strip having a lower outwardly extending longitudinal, horizontal flanging I4 superimposed upon the ilanging II of the panel I0, Whichilanging I4 is fixed thereto in the above mentioned manner. The rail I3 also possesses an upper outwardly extending longitudinal flange I5 and an outwardly extending offset portion as shown at I6 (Fig. 1,) to provide, longitudinally of the siderail, a recess or channel Within which a tacking strip II is situated.

Extending along the inner edge of the anging Il isa windlace i8 which may be of any suitable type. In the present instance the windlace comprises a core of rubber tubing covered by a fabric material, which material continues to form a projecting lip I9 utilized as a hanger for the Windlace.

The headlining or fabric trim material for covering the inner side of the roof of the vehicle is indicated at 20. In accordance with the present invention the marginal edges of the headlining are attached in place by means of a metallic retainer strip indicated generally by the reference ing a series of spaced teeth or prongs 24, 24 cut .A e

therefrom. The flange 23 and the teeth 2,4,l 24 are preferably directed outwardly and at an upward slant with respect to the plane f ,the Wall 2Ib, and the prongs 24, 24' are spaced aparta distance materially greater than the base width thereof to permit the prongs to pierce the head-4 lining material. A series of slots or'openings 25; may be punched in the offset portion .22 of the strip 2|. In addition, the upper edge of the wall 2| a of the strip 2| may be provided with a s uitable number of notches 2,6.

In, Figs. 3 to 6. inclusive, there is illustrated another embodr'rlt of the present, invention.

In this embodiment the flanging II of the 4outsidereofpanel |61 terminates in an 'upstanding longitudinally extending flange 2`| (Fig. 13). The inner side roof rail I3 is Vseated behind the flanging 21 and is attached thereto and to the flanging byv suitable means such as spot Welding. In the present embodiment the side rail |'3'is not provided withan' offset portion but is provided with a series of inwardly extending punched out ears 28. as best, shown'in Fig. 3.

In the present form -of the invention` the retainer strip 2| Ais practically identical in struc.- ture withthe retainer strip of the form of the invention above described. However, it will be noted that the present retainer strip possesses no punched out portions 25. or notchesZl, and in lieu thereof is provided with a series of apertures or screw holes 29, 29Vin the surface of the upper wall Zia. as shown in Fig.I 4. The structure of the headlining Z and windlace I8 is, in the pres ent form of the invention, the Asame as that` describedk above with the exception thatv the lip I9 of the windlace I8 terminates in an enlarged, rounded, longitudinally extending edge portion :preferably formed by enclosingfthe edge Of the .lip about aY smallv oord. 0r the like aselearly illustrated nFig. 3.

The assembly of the retainer strip relative. to the side rail isy as follows; In the form of the invention depicted in Figs. 1 and; 2, the upper lwall `21a of the retainer strip 2t is. placed in juxtaposed relation to the inner face of the. roof rail I5. Tongues 3|]` (Fig. 1) are punched from a metal of the side rail |a3at positions suitable to register with the openings 25. These tongues normally project inwardly preparatory to thek assembly and attachment of the retainer strip to the rail, and are inclined slightly upwardly. When mounting the retainer strip on the rail, the inward-ly inclined tongues project through the openings 25 in the retainerstrip and the strip is suspended thereupon. The tongues 3G are then bent upwardly into engagement 'with-Y the inner face of the wall 2id as illustrated in Fig. 1 so asto clamp the strip in position against the roof rail.Y Additional locking means is provided to prevent upwardV displacement ofthe strip and comprises tongues 3|l pressed from the metal of the side rail 13, which tongues are positioned, to register withv the notches 26 inthe retainer strip 2| and which fit thereinto along the upper edge of the strip as also shown in Fig. 1.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3

to 6 inclusive, the retainer strip 2| is mounted on a the side rail I3 by means of the fastening elements or screws 32. 'Ihese screws are inserted through the apertures 29 in the side wall 2Ia and are threaded into suitable openings provided `in the side rail I3, which openings arepositioned f.tlieteeth 24 of the strip 2| and the tacking strip IT. This lip is then fastened to the tacking strip by means of the tacks 33 (Fig. 1). However, the tacks 33 operate'as temporary retaining means only for the windlace I8, which is permanently retained in position in the manner indicated hereinafter. The edge of the headlin-ing material 20 is then forced upwardly between the flange 23 and the innersurface of the windlace lip I9. At this point the headlining material may, if desired, be caught upon the teeth 24 and thus temporarily retained between the retainer strip 2| and the tacking strip I'| for purposes of holding it in place during the Vassembling operation. As shown, the headlining 20 now extends downwardly around the flange 23 and about the lower edge of the retaining strip thereby concealing Ythe latter. The free edge ofthe headlining 2U is concealed between the wall 2lb and the tack-ing strip After partial assembly of thel headlining in the above indicated mann-er, the wall 2lb may be hammered outwardly inthe Idirection of the tacking strip I1' so as to drive the sharp teeth or prongs 24 through the head'lining 20 and through the lip I9y of the windlace I3. A hammer or other suitable driving tool may be used for this purpose and the blows used in driving the prongs through these materials mentioned are directed through the headlining 20 against the inner face of theA wall 2lb. The prongs 24, after having pierced the headlining material and lip of the windlace, contact the tacking strip I1 and becomer embedded therewithin whilefat the same timebeing deformed or bent upwards to some extent. However, 'due to the upward slant. of the fiange. 23 and of the prongs 24 attached thereto, these parts are; bent inwardly, that is, in the. direction of the wall 2lb when the retainer strip is struck and deformed in theA manner above described. This inward bending of the prongsl 254 and flange 23. serves to squeeze or clampthe headlining 29 and the lip I9 between the inner face of these parts and the outer face of the wall 2kb and therefore,l to further retain the headlining material and windlace in position. ItV will be noted that the retainer strip 2|; will; bend at the point of juncture of the flange 23 and wallv 2lb as indicated at 34 (Fig. 1) thereby to provide a. narrowing of the opening between the wall 2|b and the flange 23 at this particular point and thusV to facilitate the aforesaid clamping action.

In the form of the invention depicted in.I Figs. 3V to 6 inclusive, the assembly of the headlinng material is similar to that describedabove. exicept in the following particulars: The enlarged edge of the lip I9 is first inserted between the inwardly extending ears 28 and the face 'of` the side rail I3 and isA squeezed'. therebetween. 'This voperation rtemporarily retains theV windlace I6 in place during the assembly operations. The teeth 24 pierce the headlining 20 and lip lll in the manner described above. The position of the parts of the present form oi the invention just prior to this operation is shown in Fig. 6. The retainer strip 2| is then struck as described previously and is deformed in the manner shown in Fig. 5 being bent in particular at the pointsr indicated by the numerals 34 and 35 (Fig. 5), while the ilange 23 and teeth Z@ are bent toward the rail 'i3 and grip the headlining 2d in the way rpreviously mentioned. However, since no tackbending of the teeth 24 serves to cause a gripping of the headlining 2D and lip I9 in the manner already described, except that such gripping effect is accentuated due to a more marked bending of the ange 23 and teeth 2d resultant from a driving contact with the metallic surface instead of a wood surface as in the form of the invention already described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a very simple and efficient means for attaching the marginal edges of the headlining to the side roof rail or other framing or supporting portion of the vehicle body so as to produce a wholly concealed connection. The retainer strip 2l may be easily and readily installed on the side rail or within the body along the upper and rear sides thereof, Although two suitable methods for attaching the said strip to the said rail have been described, it will Vbe understood that such methods are shown herein simply for illustrative purposes and that other suitable means may be employed. In the present invention the construction of the retainer strip is such that the lower wall portion thereof is provided with laterally projecting teeth or prongs so arranged that the edge of the headlining may be tucked or forced up into the space between the retainer strip and the rail or other body part and held by means of the said teeth. Moreover, these teeth are so arranged relative to the strip that they will first impale the headlining and thereafter, by virtue of the relatively soft, untempered and deformable character of the metal, be bent in the direction of the inner wall of the retainer strip so as to effect a clamping or gripping action on the headlining material. Consequently, according to the present invention, the headlining is very firmly retained; for it is not only suspended upon prongs which pierce it but, in addition, it is firmly clamped or gripped. I claim:

1. A headlining retainer forY a vehicle body having a side roof rail, comprising an easily bendable metal strip having four angularly related substantially straight portions including an upper attaching portion adapted to be secured to the rail, an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion, an angularly related generally vertically extending portion, and an inwardly and upwardly extending ilange portion provided along its longitudinal edge with widely spaced teeth, the included angle between said flange and vertically extending portion being less than a right angle to form a line along which the flange is easily bendable, and said strip being permanently bendable at the line of juncture between adjacent portions, whereby to move the vertical portion permanently in close proximity to the rail and to draw the material tightly around the lower edge of the retainer when the strip is driven inwardly by a blow from an implement to clamp the material to the rail.

2. A headlining retainer for a vehicle body having a side roof rail, comprising an easily bendable metal strip having four angularly related portions including an upper attaching portion adapted to be secured to the rail, an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion, an angularly related generally vertically extending portion, and an inwardly and upwardly extending substantially straight flange portion provided along its longitudinal edge with widely spaced teeth, the included angle between said flange and vertically extending portion being less than a right angle to form a line along which the flange is easily bendable, and said strip being permanently bendable at the line of juncture between adjacent portions, whereby to move the Vertical portion permanently inclose proximity to the rail to tighten the material around the lower edge of the retainer when the strip is driven inwardly by a blow from an implement to clamp the material to the rail.

3. A headlining retainer for a vehicle'body having a side roof rail, comprising an easily bendable metal strip having four angularly related portions including an upper attaching portion adapted to be secured to the rail and terminating in an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion, the latter terminating in a generally vertically extending portion, the latter terminating in an inwardly and upwardly extending substantially straight ange provided along its longitudinal edge with widely spaced teeth, the included angle between said flange and vertically extending portion being less than a right angle to form a line along which the flange is easily bendable, said strip being permanently bendable along the line of juncture between at least two of said portions, when the strip is driven inwardly by the blow from an implement, thereby to displace the lower edge of the vertically extending portion materially closer to the rail, and said flange being permanently bendable upwardly along its line of juncture with the vertically extending portion to effect complete penetration of the teeth through the headlining material inserted between the strip and rail and to pinch or clamp the material in place.

EDWARD R. HA'II-IAWAY, 

